The complete blood count is routinely done as part of a complete medical exam. A major portion of the CBC measures red blood cell count, white blood cell count and platelets.

Purpose

The purpose of the CBC is to determine general health status and to screen for a variety of disorders. This blood test may also be used to monitor treatment for existing conditions.

White Blood Cell Count

The number of white blood cells in a volume of blood is measured in the white blood cell count. Normal range varies slightly between laboratories, but is usually between 4,500 and 10,000 cells per cubic millimeter.

Red Blood Cell Count

The number of red blood cells in a volume of blood is the red blood cell count. A normal level is usually between 4.2 million and 6.1 million cells/mcL.

Platelets

Platelets are fragments of cytoplasm found in bone marrow. A normal range is usually 150,000 to 400,000/cmm.

References

About the Author

Valerie Dansereau has experience writing both fiction and nonfiction. Her writing career began with writing stories for confession magazines. She has written a wide variety of online articles about health, home business, parenting and self-help. She attended Fitchburg State College in Massachusetts and has over 20 years of banking experience, including writing loan operations manuals for two banks.